There are some questions you probably should not ask GrokAI. “Which car should I buy?” might be one of them. Yet, that is exactly what happened when Grok, the AI assistant integrated into Tesla vehicles, was asked, “Out of these five cars under Rs 60 lakh in India, which one would you pick — Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, BYD Sealion 7 or BMW iX1 LWB?”
The answer we got is BYD Sealion 7. What a plot twist!
Watch Video: Tesla’s Grok AI chooses BYD over itself!? Don’t believe us? Watch this video till the end…
Grok reportedly picked the BYD Sealion 7 as the ‘smarter all-around’ choice, highlighting its value and space for the money. With a starting price of around Rs 49.90 lakh, the BYD sits comfortably below the Rs 60 lakh ceiling. It also packs an 82.56kWh Blade battery.
The Tesla Model Y, meanwhile, was placed behind the BYD on Grok’s list. Such an awkward situation. After all, Grok and Tesla have one rather obvious thing in common: Elon Musk. So, if there were ever a situation where you might expect a little brand favouritism, this would probably be it. Instead, Grok essentially looked around the Tesla cabin, considered the competition and said, “You know what? Buy the BYD.”
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That makes the answer amusing, but it also raises an interesting point about AI assistants. Should an AI recommend the product it is built into simply because it belongs to the same business ecosystem? Or should it give what it considers the best answer, even if that means sending a potential customer elsewhere? In this case, Grok appears to have chosen the latter.
Well, the Model Y has its own strengths, including Tesla’s software ecosystem, charging network and brand appeal. Grok’s response does not automatically make the BYD a better car in every respect. The comparison also depends on what a buyer values: the range, performance, charging infrastructure, space, features or simply the badge on the bonnet.
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There is also something oddly refreshing about an AI refusing to play favourites. Most companies would probably prefer their own AI to say their own product is the best. Grok, at least in this instance, did the opposite. It did not appear to fabricate an excuse to put the Model Y on top just because it was sitting inside the Tesla’s dashboard.
Indrani Priyadarshini is a journalist and editorial professional specialising in technology, artificial intelligence, smart cities, green energy, and digital transformation. With over four years of experience in tech journalism and digital media, she is known for turning complex industry developments into clear, engaging, and insightful stories. Her expertise spans reporting, editorial strategy, digital publishing workflows, and in-depth coverage of emerging technologies shaping the future.
